Prevalence of Oral HPV Infection in the United States, 2009-2010

Abstract

Oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the cause of a subset of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).¹ Human papillomavirus–positive OSCCs are associated with sexual behavior in contrast to HPV-negative OSCCs that are associated with chronic tobacco and alcohol use.² At least 90% of HPV-positive OSCCs are associated with high-risk (or oncogenic) HPV type 16 (HPV-16),³ and oral infection confers an approximate 50-fold increase in risk for HPV-positive OSCC.²